Scranton Prep, Abington Heights doubles teams claim gold

Oct. 16—CLARKS SUMMIT — Scranton Prep and Abington Heights were the top tennis teams in District 2 throughout the season.

On Monday, these teams showcased their talent yet again in the doubles tournament and left with much to celebrate.

Scranton Prep’s Alyssa Wigley and Lily Lengyel swept the Class 2A tournament, while Abington Heights’ Sona Hanumali and Mary Booth clinched the gold in Class 3A at the District 2 championships held at Birchwood Tennis and Fitness Club.

Both teams will now advance to the PIAA Championships, which will begin on Nov. 3 at the Hershey Racquet Club. Wigley and Lengyel will face the runner-up from District 3, and Hanumali and Booth will compete against the third-place team from District 3.

By winning the doubles titles, both programs added to their already impressive championship hauls this fall.

Scranton Prep dominated the Lackawanna League and won the District 2 Class 2A team championship before Wigley and Lengyel, the top-seeded pair, faced their teammates Emma Cuck and Ella Cohen in the doubles final.

Wigley and Lengyel proved to be an unstoppable duo. Wigley, who played at the No. 1 singles position, remained undefeated in the league and made it to the semifinals of the District 2 singles tournament. Lengyel, a talented freshman, also had an unbeaten record at No. 2 singles and reached the semifinals of the singles bracket.

Throughout the doubles tournament, they displayed their dominance by winning all their matches in straight sets without dropping a single game. This included a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory over Sophia DePolo and Caitlin Finn from Dallas in the semifinals.

“We were extremely excited to play in the doubles tournament,” Lengyel said. “We both really enjoy it. Our teamwork and communication were excellent, and that’s crucial in doubles.”

In the final, Wigley and Lengyel unleashed powerful winners and executed aggressive strategies. After seizing a 4-0 lead, they only dropped one game before securing the first set 6-1. They then closed out the match with a 6-2 victory in the second set to claim the title.

“Lily and I had never really played doubles together before, so I was thrilled with our performance throughout the tournament,” Wigley said. “We played amazingly as a team. I’m proud of our performance and the challenge our teammates posed. They played an excellent match.”

Cuck, who played at the No. 3 singles position all season and also maintained an undefeated record, put up a good fight against her teammates. However, facing familiar opponents presented a unique challenge.

“It’s difficult playing against my teammates because they know all my weaknesses,” Cuck said. “But I thought we played well in the semifinals. We communicated effectively and learned how to work together as a team.”

Cuck and Cohen, the sixth-seeded pair, defeated Montrose’s Cara Evans, a singles finalist in the District 2 Class 2A tournament, and her partner Paley Adams with a score of 6-3, 7-5 to secure an all-Scranton Prep final.

“We played to our strengths, focused on our game, and emerged victorious,” Cohen said. “It was challenging competing against our teammates because we know how talented they are. I’m happy for their success, and I’m glad we’re all moving on to the state championships together.”

In the Class 3A competition, Hanumali and Booth completed the championship sweep for Abington Heights, which had already secured the team title and saw Susan Arp win the singles gold.

The Lady Comets reached the final after defeating Wallenpaupack’s Erika Badner, the defending champion, and her teammate Alaina Burke with a score of 6-1, 6-2.

This presented a special opportunity for Booth, who had missed some time earlier in the season due to an injury.

“We were just trying to get on the same page and not overexert ourselves,” Booth said while accepting her giant Hershey candy bar from coach Kelly Arp. “We stayed focused on our individual games and truly became a team.”

“This season was really tough for me. I fractured my wrist, so winning this proves how hard I worked to get to this point.”

Hanumali, with an ear-to-ear smile after every winning point, and Booth displayed great synergy and defeated Delaware Valley’s Noelle Holderith and Jessica Willson with a score of 6-4, 6-1.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Hanumali, who played at the No. 3 singles position this season. “I’m so happy that Mary and I get to join Susan at the state championships. We’re definitely heading to Hersheypark after this.”

“Playing with Mary was so much fun. We worked incredibly well together, especially considering we only found out four days ago that we would be a team.”

The silver medal marked a rewarding postseason for Holderith, who had earlier pushed Arp to three sets in the singles tournament semifinals.

“It feels amazing because this is the first season I’ve won any medals, so earning two is really nice and exciting,” Holderith said. “I think we demonstrated what Delaware Valley tennis is capable of.”

Holderith and Willson secured their place in the final after a hard-fought victory against Valley View’s Avianna Santarelli and Emily Moyles. The Lady Warriors won the first set 6-2 and came back from a 5-2 deficit to win the second set 7-5.

“We fought really hard,” Willson said. “I’m glad we were able to stage a comeback and reach the final. This is truly incredible.”

DISTRICT 2 DOUBLES TOURNAMENT

CLASS 3A

Semifinals

6-Sona Hanumali-Mary Booth (Abington Heights) def. 1-Erika Badner-Alaina Burke (Wallenpaupack), 6-1, 6-2; 3-Noelle Holderith-Jessica Willson (Delaware Valley) def. Avianna Santarelli-Emily Moyles (Valley View), 6-4, 7-5.

Final

6-Hanumali-Booth (Abington Heights) def. 3-Holderith-Willson (Delaware Valley), 6-4, 6-1.

CLASS 2A

Semifinals

1-Alyssa Wigley-Lily Lengyel (Scranton Prep) def. 5-Sophia DePolo-Catlin Finn (Dallas), 6-0, 6-0; 6-Emma Cuck-Ella Cohen (Scranton Prep) def. 2-Cara Evans-Paley Adams (Montrose), 6-3, 7-5.

Final

1-Wigley-Lengyel (Scranton Prep) def. 6-Cuck-Cohen (Scranton Prep), 6-1, 6-2.

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